1869 $20 MS64+ PCGS Secure. CAC....

Description

1869 Liberty Double Eagle, MS64+
Type Two Issue, Rare in Mint State
Second-Finest Known, Ex: Bass

1869 $20 MS64+ PCGS Secure. CAC. Ex: H.W. Bass, Jr. There are six major design types in the double eagle series, but the rarest by far in Mint State is the Type Two twenty. Rarer still is one in near-Gem or Gem preservation.

One reason so few high-grade examples exist is the way double eagles were handled after exiting the coin press. Although carefully minted, they were roughly processed after striking. Sewn into cloth bags and tossed onto trains or wagons, they often suffered a rough trip to their destination. The heavy gold twenties ended up marred by coin-to-coin contact. Few collectors had the opportunity or financial wherewithal to put any unabraded coins aside.

The 1869 twenty, in particular, suffered a lack of attention from collectors and circulated widely. As a result, virtually no Mint State specimens are recorded. A search of rosters and auction records shows a radiant MS65 -- sold in our January 2008 FUN sale -- is generally recognized as the finest known example. The next best coin is the one offered here, which in MS64+ is the second finest graded by PCGS. NGC has not graded an 1869 double eagle finer than MS63 (6/14).

This beautiful 1869 double eagle looks as fresh as the day it was minted. Smooth, semireflective fields provide an extra-dimensional backdrop to the frosted, deeply struck portrait and pinpoint-sharp stars. Honey-gold mingles with bright yellow-gold richness. The few abrasions are limited to a sequence of small marks on the chin and hair that likely keep this lustrous piece from an even higher grade. The reverse is nearly immaculate, and the fields on each side of the coin glow with semiprooflikeness.
This splendid double eagle displays two important citations to confirm its outstanding eye appeal: the PCGS Plus designation and the green CAC-approved label for quality. It is a prize of the utmost desirability for the gold specialist or any seeker of high-grade type.(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26A5, PCGS# 8955, Greysheet# 9806)

Weight: 33.44 grams

Metal: Gold

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

View Certification Details from PCGS